The First Print Proof
It’s been a busy busy start to the new year, and I cannot believe it’s already April with no 2024 update! But more on why (ok just my excuses) later.
Just over a month ago, I hit a major milestone with LISHKA. I got to hold her for the first time. For however many books come in my future (if I can get my butt in gear to actually write and edit the next books), there will never be a first book in print. Even as I type this, I’m looking at the print proof flopped on my desk, full of stickies of corrections to make, and I cannot help stroking the spine.
I ordered my first print proof from Amazon, and, after anxiously bypassing the big yellow Publish your paperback button, I successfully placed an order. The process was pretty straightforward, minus the fear that somehow I was making this book available now.
It only took a week to deliver to my door, which was surprising as I’d read this can take longer. I had been tracking the book and was excited to see it come a day earlier than expected. Funnily enough, I was out horseback riding with a friend when it arrived, and I came home to a squat little cardboard box waiting for me, along with my husband, Chris, and our friend who was visiting. Chris was excited for me and asked me to open it then and there, but I wanted to wait until I was alone, just in case I didn’t like it. So off they went to get food and after puttering, I approached THE BOX.
I’m not sure what I expected. Tears? A flood of emotion? But instead I was guarded, stoic even, already poised to be critical. I opened the box and pulled out the first copy—I had ordered two, one for me and one for my twin. I sat for a moment, feeling the delightful weight of it in my hand (it’s a nice thickness) and appreciated the surprising quality of the printed cover. I had, quite frankly, expected Amazon’s print on demand quality to be less than—I had been extremely worried about the interior pages being too thick and instead found the texture to be on par with traditional publisher print houses. It even had a nice flop, most desirable in a paperback.
My most immediate first impression was to be pleased, and also realizing that I don’t like the size. My perfect paperback size for larger books is 5.25x8.5. However, Amazon does not offer this size as one of their standard options. So instead, I had chosen 5.5x8.5, thinking that to be the closest. But I was wrong. 5.5x8.5 means the book has a narrower width to height ratio and thus the book is a bit taller and narrower, which I don’t particularly like. This might seem like a minor thing, but I just cannot get past it. So I’ve decided that, unless it seriously compromises the gorgeous existing cover design, I want to reduce to 5.25x8, a size Amazon does offer and that, while a little smaller than my desired size, retains the same height to width ratio.
This might all sound quite silly, and likely no one but me will notice, but… it’s my book. I must see if this smaller, squattier size is better. I told my mom it’s like trying on a new pair of hiking books where you think the size might be right, but maybe it’s just a bit tight on your toe, and you really need to try the next size up to be sure either way.
Other than the size, the book printed beautifully. The designer, Rena, did a magnificent job of visually capturing LISHKA’s essence. I have finally just finished reading through the book to proof it and sent her the edits. Hoping one more print copy and then it will be ready to publish!
(Will post pictures of my first print proof post-cover reveal… which I hope will come soon-ish, perhaps in May!).
